Help ID a press

[richhodg66]

A guy has this advertised fairly close to me. He found it and two shotgun presses (one of which appears to be a nice old Pacific) in a house clean out, and he doesn't know much about them. He's gonna look closer at it when he gets home and hopefully send more pictures. Anybody know what it is before I go to too much trouble to go make a deal on it?
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[richhodg66]

The guy says now that it's a Lyman if that helps.

[KenT7021]

Lyman All American turret press.It has the 12 gauge shotshell die and shell holder installed.Great old presses.I have two of them minus the shotshell die.Hopefully he has the insert to reduce the shotshell position to 7/8-14.

[richhodg66]

He said nothing is rusted or seized up. Also said he had nothing else besides what's pictured. How hard to find the inserts to work with regular dies?

[retread]

Lyman All American turret press.It has the 12 gauge shotshell die and shell holder installed.Great old presses.I have two of them minus the shotshell die.Hopefully he has the insert to reduce the shotshell position to 7/8-14.

KenT&021, do you know the size of the outside of the bushing? That would be helpful if he starts looking or some one else here may have something that will do the job.

[Pressman]

The bushing is unique to that press. Finding a single one is possible, but rare.

[richhodg66]

I'm pretty sure I can have this one for cheap. It's about two hours away, but close to where my Dad lives now and I've been meaning to go visit him soon.

I have absolutely no idea what a machinist's services cost, but would it be feasible to have someone make an insert for it?

[LUBEDUDE]

I’d check with CH4D first. I haven’t been on their website in a few years, but they used to list 6-8 different bushings that they carried. They are only listed by size, not by press name.

I’m laid up right now, so I can’t go out and measure. If I can get up in a day or so I will measure.

Check the Lyman site for a parts schematic and maybe that bushing size will be listed.

[luv45acp]

I'm pretty sure I can have this one for cheap. It's about two hours away, but close to where my Dad lives now and I've been meaning to go visit him soon.

I have absolutely no idea what a machinist's services cost, but would it be feasible to have someone make an insert for it?

Typically. $50 minimum in machine shop if you can find a smaller private owned one. Nice little turret press. Good for dedicated 9mm loading.

[drjjpdc]

Here are a few pix of mine. I've had it a few years. Don't know if it helps. I'll try to look around for a manual/schematic. I got a lot of my shellholders from E_bay.

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[richhodg66]

I have to go out of town tomorrow for a couple of days, but when I get back, I think I'm gonna make a trip down there and get it if he still has it. I could set that up in .45 Colt of .38 Special and dedicate it to one caliber I shoot a lot.

[drjjpdc]

It's pretty easy but here is a link to the manual with pictures of the parts.

https://www.lymanproducts.com/media/catalog/product/b/r/brasssmith_instructions_for_web_lr_5.pdf

[richhodg66]

Thanks!

I'm going to be tempted to grab those two shotgun presses the guy has. I don't load shot gun shells much and the Lee Load Alls are adequate for what I do. Hoping Monday or Tuesday to have a good deal closed.

[Pressman]

The bushing is 1.09x28tpi.

[Scoutdog99]

Does anyone happen to know the size for the socket set screws used to hold the shell holder and primer post in place for the AA press?
Thanks

[StratsMan]

Scoutdog99...
I just checked my All American; I have allen set screws holding the shell holder and primer post. Both take a 1/8" wrench...

Richhodg66...
Your press looks like there is one turret hole with a shotgun die in it, but the other holes visible in the turret appear to be 7/8-14. Have you tried to put regular dies in those holes?? I could be wrong. The only example I have to go on is my press, and all 4 holes are 7/8-14...

[LUBEDUDE]

Scoutdog99...
I just .................

Richhodg66...
Your press looks like there is one turret hole with a shotgun die in it, but the other holes visible in the turret appear to be 7/8-14. Have you tried to put regular dies in those holes?? I could be wrong. The only example I have to go on is my press, and all 4 holes are 7/8-14...

To my knowledge Lyman had two factory choices on the tool heads. 4 identical holes all 7/8 X14. The other one was 3 holes with 7/8 X 14 and one proprietary hole for the Lyman AA shotgun kit to be used as a single stage when installed.

They may have had custom offerings if ordered, I don’t know. Maybe Pressman, Green Frog, SalPal, or others may know.

[richhodg66]

I went to Wichita to visit Dad and picked this up while I was there. It does have the shotgun die in the large hole and something else in the opposite hole which I think is for seating wads. Bottom line, it's in good shape and ought to work well, just needs a little clean up and some oil, no rust or anything..

One question right now, I can't get the turret to turn and I'm sure there is something I'm supposed to do to unlock it (?)

I'll get this bolted down to something and try it out, but I'll have to find a shell holder first. This will likely become a dedicated .45 Colt or .38 Special press.

[kir_kenix]

A family member picked up one of these 2nd hand a few years ago. He was able to procure a shell holder adapter...I'm guessing from Ebay. Refused to buy the correct bushing for the odd sized tool head. I think ch4d had them...but they weren't cheap.

We turned one in my little southbend, but I can't for the life of me remember what size it was. I see it posted above as 1.09x28...but I seem to remember it being much coarser than that. He loctited the bushing in and never mentioned it again, so I suppose it is working fine. I think his is a dedicated .44 special set up.

[richhodg66]

It's pretty easy but here is a link to the manual with pictures of the parts.

https://www.lymanproducts.com/media/catalog/product/b/r/brasssmith_instructions_for_web_lr_5.pdf

Thanks, but that manual doesn't have this particular press, just the eight holer. I'll look around today for a manual for this press, maybe call Lyman.

[richhodg66]

A family member picked up one of these 2nd hand a few years ago. He was able to procure a shell holder adapter...I'm guessing from Ebay. Refused to buy the correct bushing for the odd sized tool head. I think ch4d had them...but they weren't cheap.

We turned one in my little southbend, but I can't for the life of me remember what size it was. I see it posted above as 1.09x28...but I seem to remember it being much coarser than that. He loctited the bushing in and never mentioned it again, so I suppose it is working fine. I think his is a dedicated .44 special set up.

I looked at the CH4D web site and didn't see one of that thread size. I may call them today and ask. Worst case, I'll just set this up with a three die set and call it good.

[LUBEDUDE]

I went to Wichita...........

One question right now, I can't get the turret to turn and I'm sure there is something I'm supposed to do to unlock it (?)

................

I’ve not encountered this before. However, manual turret presses without a tool head handle can be a bit more resistant to turn. Did you install any dies so that you can grab onto them? Did you loosen up the top cap nut?

[Scoutdog99]

One question right now, I can't get the turret to turn and I'm sure there is something I'm supposed to do to unlock it (?)



Make sure the support bolt under the rear of the turret is cranked up so high/hard that it is preventing the rotation of the turret.

[richhodg66]

Make sure the support bolt under the rear of the turret is cranked up so high/hard that it is preventing the rotation of the turret.

That was it. Thanks very much.

[Scoutdog99]

Same thing happened to me when I first got my AA, hence the suggestion to check.

[richhodg66]

I think I'm gonna like this press. I hope I can find a bushing for the shotgun die and also a priming arm for something besides shot shell primers.

[Scoutdog99]

Here is a picture of the shotgun bushing out of my press. The shotgun bushing is on the left and on the right a bushing to use Lyman 310 dies in standard 7/8-14 holes on presses. Good luck in trying to locate one. I've only seen them with a press. Finding someone to machine one for you may be the route to go.

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[Pressman]

Good pictures Scoutdog, thanks they should help the OP.

[richhodg66]

Here is a picture of the shotgun bushing out of my press. The shotgun bushing is on the left and on the right a bushing to use Lyman 310 dies in standard 7/8-14 holes on presses. Good luck in trying to locate one. I've only seen them with a press. Finding someone to machine one for you may be the route to go.


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You know, that shotgun bushing/adapter, looks a lot like the insert in the top of my Rockchucker. I'm sure it's not the same, but the old Lachmiller I'm working on now has a similar insert as well. Makes me wonder if there isn't a part for an existing press design that would work?

[Pressman]

Unfortunately there is not another press with a bushing that will fit the Lyman, it is it's own odd duck.

Having a bushing made could be costly. Another, and cheaper otion could be to have the hole bored out and threaded to fit the bushing on your RC.

[richhodg66]

Called CH4D, nice guy who took the time to go look to see if he had one, but alas, no dice. So, I guess I'll have to either do without or pay to have someone make one up for me. Actually, #1 son enlisted in the national guard a year or so back and is a 91E which does some machining work, I may be able to get him to do it, have to talk to him about it.

Does anyone know where I can buy a proper priming arm for it that will load large and small pistol primers rather than shotgun primers?

[KenT7021]

The All American doesn't use a primer arm.They use a priming punch.If you're using the J to X shell holder adapter the punches are still available new.The old priming punches for the J shell holders can sometimes be found on EBay.I managed to find one of the threaded adapters there recently as well.It wasn't cheap.

[kir_kenix]

Called CH4D, nice guy who took the time to go look to see if he had one, but alas, no dice. So, I guess I'll have to either do without or pay to have someone make one up for me. Actually, #1 son enlisted in the national guard a year or so back and is a 91E which does some machining work, I may be able to get him to do it, have to talk to him about it.

Does anyone know where I can buy a proper priming arm for it that will load large and small pistol primers rather than shotgun primers?

Both of my lathes are crated up awaiting a move to my new shop, or I'd turn one up for you. If you have a community college with a machinist course in town, stop by. They are always looking for small projects...and this one isn't terribly difficult. Good luck.

[Hamish]

The All American doesn't use a primer arm.They use a priming punch.If you're using the J to X shell holder adapter the punches are still available new.The old priming punches for the J shell holders can sometimes be found on EBay.I managed to find one of the threaded adapters there recently as well.It wasn't cheap.

If you're using the "J" to "X" adaptor, the centers of the modern shell holders are pretty easily enlarged a bit to allow the use of the post type primer seater by drilling. I would imagine it would be a quick job with a Dremel also.

[richhodg66]

Both of my lathes are crated up awaiting a move to my new shop, or I'd turn one up for you. If you have a community college with a machinist course in town, stop by. They are always looking for small projects...and this one isn't terribly difficult. Good luck.

Good advice. The high school I teach at has a welding and metal shop and they have fixed some of our equipment before, but I don't know if they have the ability to machine anything. I'll ask when school opens back up if I haven't figured something else out by then.

[richhodg66]

If you're using the "J" to "X" adaptor, the centers of the modern shell holders are pretty easily enlarged a bit to allow the use of the post type primer seater by drilling. I would imagine it would be a quick job with a Dremel also.

Good to know. I kind of like to use things as they were intended, so thinking about just procuring the old shell holders. Besides Ebay, there's a brick and mortar old school shop about 50 miles away with a gentleman who must be close to 90, but if I ask him for those, I know he'll produce a cigar box full of them within a few minutes. I just saw him a couple of weeks ago for shell holders for an old Lachmiller press I'm working on.

[smithnframe]

I've been using one since 1972...........it used to be my workhorse press till I got a Forster co-ax and just recently a Redding Big Boss II and a Redding T-7 turret. Also still use a Tru-line Jr!